§ Mr. Jacksonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied with the present arrangement whereby soldiers who are medically graded downwards by a board of experts can in a short period be upgraded again by a single medical officer?
§ Sir J. GriggA man's physical condition tends to improve as a result of Army training and in a normal case the medical officer who has watched the man at work in his unit can properly determine when a man is fit for a higher medical grading. This arrangement will, however, shortly be modified. In order to make full use of all the men available in the Army, including those of relatively low medical category, and to ensure that the duties a man carries out are, as far as possible, suited to his medical condition, Army Selection Centres are being instituted. Eventually all soldiers whose change of medical category entails a change of employment will pass through these centres. They will be there for a week and will then be classified and allotted to the duties they can best perform. Men suffering from defects which can be cured will be given special remedial training. It is hoped in this way to make as many men as possible fit for combatant duties. When1046W a change of medical grade does not entail a change of employment the present system will continue in force.